Globalisation

Looking at recent election results, it seems like people have enough of globalisation. When the European Union started, free trade was believed to be the way to paradise. The fact that we don’t see it like that today, is not because our globalisation went too far. It is because our globalisation is one-sided.

Indeed, we see some negative consequences of globalisation. But we forget we are buying a lot of consumer goods for a price that is ridiculously low. We travel to the other end of the globe for almost no money. Take the plane in the middle of the month of November and you would expect to see only businessmen travelling? Actually, as a businessman you might feel very lonesome between the hurdles of tourists around you. The reason is: the tickets are too cheap; we don’t pay the environmental impact of the plane traffic. The government pays the bill in return for a doubtful social peace.

The reason we are still unhappy is because our economy falters and our jobs are unstable. Our economy falters because globalisation did not touch the people sovereignty in matters of budgetary household, fiscal policy, social security, unemployment rules, environmental laws, …In all these matters, we did not get a decent globalisation. As a result, high capital – multinational firms graze the best pastures worldwide and leave deserts behind.

Let me be clear with you: I am in favour of globalisation. But it needs to be a full globalisation. The climate agreements need to be accepted by all countries. All countries should implement a world-wide agreed social security. All countries should gradually harmonise their tax policies. Europe should give the example. We need more Europe, not less Europe.

I refer to my earlier blogs: “Local versus Global” and “The European Paradox”.